Jesus, Colm Cooper’s not even retired a week and Kerry are winning again.
As coincidences go, that’s the biggest the universe could ever throw up.
It’s a case of gone but very much not forgotten as the Kingdom honoured the glorious legacy Gooch left behind him on the field with a stunning win over the once-thought unbeatable Dublin.
https://twitter.com/TadhgKennelly/status/770025700996812800
In a game of inches, everything counted during 75 minutes of pulsating blood and thunder from Gaelic Football’s two best rivals.
Diarmuid Connolly’s black card didn’t help the Dubs.
Stephen Cluxton sprang to deny David Moran brilliantly then Tadhg Morley later, before Philly McMahon flung himself across the goal line to shut down any notions Kerry would have again of raising a green flag.
Paul Mannion came on to start the inevitable rescue mission and, despite Jim Gavin’s outfit not registering for over 18 minutes in the second period, the forward got them going again and ensured that this went right to the very wire.
But Kerry held on and kicked on when they needed to and they won the national football league to displace the capital for the first time in five years.
After the game, Dr Crokes defender Fionn Fitzgerald walked up the Hogan Stand steps just weeks after he watched Johnny Buckley go lift the All-Ireland club championship trophy and, as his presence announced that the Kingdom are very much back with eyes on the future, he gave a fitting and classy hat-tip to the past.
He gave a nod to the great man, Colm Gooch Cooper.
Classy from Fionn Fitzgerald, giving the final mention to @colmcooper13 pic.twitter.com/qQWmBgHk9h
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) April 9, 2017
“I’m sure Kerry and Dublin fans and everyone around the world would like to acknowledge what a legend Gooch was…”
Testify, Fionn. Well said.
